What does destratification mean?

What does ‘destratification’ mean in HVAC? In HVAC, destratification is the process of reducing or eliminating temperature stratification in a building. In many large spaces or spaces with high ceilings, warm air naturally rises and collects at the roof or ceiling level, leaving cooler air lower down in the occupied zone. This layering of temperature is known as thermal stratification.

Destratification is the mixing of this air to make the temperature from floor to ceiling even. This process is usually achieved using destratification fans, air circulation fans or appropriate air movement equipment. These fans push or circulate the warm air, which is trapped at a high level, back down towards the occupied zone, where the heat is actually needed.

Destratification in a heating system makes a building more comfortable and more energy efficient. Without destratification, the heating may continue to run because the floor level is still cold, even though a lot of warm air is already sitting unused near the roof. When you bring this warm air back down, the heating system can work more efficiently and potentially use less energy.

Destratification is common in warehouses, factories, workshops, retail units, sports halls, distribution centres and other commercial or industrial buildings with high ceilings. It can be combined with warm air heaters, radiant heaters, heat pumps, boilers and other HVAC systems. The following dedicated webpage details our full range of these commercial and industrial de stratification fans 

In simple language, destratification in HVAC is the process of bringing warm air, where it is wasted at a high level, back down to where people need it. This adds to the comfort, reduces heat loss through the roof and assists in reducing heating running costs.